Fire-alarm box.



S. & W. HORST.

FIRE ALARM BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, I917. 1,271,469. Patented July 2,1918.

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m: mmms FFYENS m, [mam S. & W. HORST.

FIRE ALARM BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, IBM.

1 271,469. Patented July 2,1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

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S. & W. HORST.

FIRE ALARM BOX.

APPLlCATlON FILED MAY 28. I917- Patented July 2,1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

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SZCZEPAN HORST AND WACLAW HORST, 0F BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

FIRE-ALARM BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J uly 2, 1918.

Application filed May 28, 1917. Serial No. 171,563.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, SZGZEPAN Honsr and 'WAoLAw Hons'r, citizens of Russia, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Alarm Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in fire alarm boxes.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a fire alarm box adapted to be employed in municipal fire alarm systems whereby the person sending in the alarm is retained with his arm in the box until the proper officer reaches the box and liberates the operator.

A further object of the device is to provide a ready means for preventing the sounding of false alarms by arranging in connection with the electric circuit closer of the box a means for catching and holding the arm of the operator, the catching mechanism being operable simultaneously with the circuit closer for holding a persons arm without endangering the same.

lVith these general objects in view and others that will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals refer to corresponding part throughoutthe several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device with an arm positioned therein, the elements being illustrated by dotted lines in the arm engaging positions, the door of the box being open. i

Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof with a portion broken away.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken upon line IIIIII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4L is vertical sectional view through the device.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken upon line V V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view taken upon line VIVI of Fig. 1.

Fig. '7 is a .side elevation of the device with the cover plate removed and with the elements in their operative positions, the fire alarm switch being closed.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation thereof partially broken away.

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional View through the locking member positioned as illustrated in Fig. 7 w

Fig; 10 is a horizontal sectional view thereof.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional View through the winding device.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a portion of the members carried by the shiftable rack.

Fig. 13 is a perspective View ofthe release bar employed therewith.

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the rack carried arm engaging plate.

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of an end portion of one of the lock operating bolts.

' Fig. 16 is a perspective View of one of the locking hooks, and,

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of an edge portion of the arm engaging slide.

It being understood that the present device is for employment in a fire alarm system such as that of a city, the device is herein illustrated employing an elongated upright box 10 having a mechanism chamber '11 thereln with two comparatively smaller chambers 12.and 13 arranged thereabove,

and a cover plate 14 being removably pro-' vided for one side of the'box. An arm receiving opening 15 is provided in'the inner front wall 16 of the box, it being noted that an outer front wall or plate 17 is normally positioned over the wall 16 and provided with a corresponding opening while a sta tionary tray or shelf 17 extends through the cutaway lower portion 18 of the front of the box, a hollow semicircular guard 19 being swingingly mounted within the cutaway portion pivoted as at 20 upon the tray 17. The tray 17 has a hollowed out portion 21 in its upper face comforming substantially to the width of the opening 15 for accommodating the arm such' as '22 of the operator when positioned upon the tray 17 with the elbow resting upon the tray 17 extending through theopening 15 with the forearm and hand upwardly'posi tion'ed'within a housing 23 adjacent the front wall of the box for the purpose'of turning the knob 24; which operates th'e'fire alarm'system. i

A brace 25 is fixed within the rear portion of the chamber 11 and has an arcuate toothed inner face 26 while an arcuate shiftable rack 27 adapted for swinging movement in parallelism with the toothed face of the brace 25 is secured at its upper end to an arm engaging plate 28 the latter being hinged at its lower end across and within the housing 23 as at 29 at a point adjacent the inner end of the tray 17, it being under stood that the rear inclined side 30 of the housing 23 is open for accommodating the free movement of the rack 27 therethrough while the plate 28 forms a shiftable rear wall therefor. The shiftable rack 27 carries a cross bar 31 adjacent its lower end, the said bar having a strap 32 connected thereto and provided with a spring winding drum mechanism 33 within a casing 34 thereabove after the manner of a spring balance employed with windows. The action of the strap 32 is to tend to move the cross bar 31 and rack 27 upwardly while a spring pressed latch 34 normally engages the teeth 35 in the forward concave face of the rack 27 for normally maintaining the rack in its lowered position as best illustrated in Fig. 9 of the drawings. A releasing lever 36 is provided for the latch 34 adapted for engaging the side teeth 37 of the latter while a link 38 connects the lever 36 with a rocker 39 mounted upon the housing 23 and upper link 40 pivotally connects the rocker 39' with an arm 41 of the turn knob 24. With the rack 27 in its normal lowered position retained by the latch 34 it will be seen that the operator may position his arm within the box 10 and turn the knob 24 for moving the link 40 downwardly as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 7 of the drawings which will release the latch 34 permitting the spring operated strap 32 to forcibly shift the rack 27 upwardly carrying the plate 28 toward the forward inner wall 16 of the box with the operators forearm vertically maintained between the said plate 28 and inner wall 16. A switch arm 42 is secured to one end 43 of the crossbar 31 and provided with a switch plate 44 at its upper free end adapted for spanning the spaced terminals 45 of the circuit wires 46' of the electric alarm system when the rack 27 is elevated upon being released by the turning of the knob 24 as hereinbefore noted, the position of the elements being shown in Fig. 7.

A catch 47 is slidably mounted upon the cross bar 31 having a beveled tooth 48 projecting through a perforation 49 in the shiftable rack 27, a spring 50 tending to normally maintain the tooth 48 into ratcheting engagement with the teeth 26 of the brace 25. 'A release bar 51 is pivoted at one endas at 52 upon the cross bar 31 adjacent the "end 43 of the latter and overlying the catch 48 with an upturned flange 53 of the said catch positioned adjacent the central side portion 54 of the release bar and whereby a pivotal movement of the bar 51 in a direction away from the brace 25 will release the tooth 48 from the teeth 26 of the said brace against the action of the spring 50 and upon releasing the bar 51 the spring 5O returns the catch to its operative position. When the rack 27 is elevated, the catch tooth 48 is normally in engagement with the brace teeth 26 maintaining the rack 27 and arm engaging plate 28 in their operative positions. The cover plate 14 is providedwith a curved slot 55 through-which a return means or button 56 freely extends for moving upwardly and downwardly when the cross bar'31 is shifted, the said button 56 being carried by the adjacent end 57 of the release bar 51. WVhen the rack 27 is in its elevated operative position, the connecting shank portion 58 of the button v56 will be positioned within a rearwardly extending offset or notch 59 at the top of the slot 55 with the tooth 48 engaged with the brace teeth 26. The arm 22 of the operator being retained withinthe box 10, the fire department oflicermay unlock and open a door 60 in the outer wall 61 overlying and spaced from the cover plate 14 and by forwardly moving the button 56 releasing the same from the notch 59, the bar 51 will be shifted, releasing the tooth 48 and thereby permitting the forcible downward movement of the button 56 carrying therewith the bars 51 and 31 as well as the rack 27, rearwardly moving the arm engaging plate 28 while the latch 34 ratchets over the rack teeth 35 and maintains the latter in its adjusted lowered position.

A spring pressed dog 61 is pivoted to one of the opposite bars 62 which extend forwardly from the opposite ends of the cross bar 31, the said dog having a tooth 63 at its upper end overlying the release bar 51 while a spring 64 provided for the dog 61 normally maintains the bar 51 in its position overlying the bar 31 to thereby permit the spring 50 to operatively maintain the catch 47 in engagement with the brace teeth 26. During the downward operative movement of the cross bar 51, the heel 65 at the lower end of the dog 61 comes into engagement with a stop 66 upon the bottom 67 of the box 10 thereby releasing the dog 61 while the button shank 58 within the slot 59 maintains the catch 47 in its released position when the rack 27 is lowered and at which times the latch 34 alone maintains the ele ments in their normal set positions as illustrated by Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The opposite side bars 62 heretofore mentioned form the rear legs of the rockers 68 pivoted at opposite sides of the housing 23 upon the pivots 29, the other legs 69 of the said rockers having curved forward ends 70 slidably engaging the upper faces of the blocks '71 angularly arranged at. the upper inner end of the guard 19. It will be understood that with the rocker 69 and guard 19 arranged normally as illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings an upward movement of the rack 27 operates the rocker 68 to tilt the forward end of the guard 19 upwardly adjacent the arm 22 of the operator and retaining the same in position while the rack 27 is elevated while the lowering of the rack 27 permits the guard to automatically move by reason of its own weight to its normal horizontal position.

Aslide 72 is vertically shiftably arranged within a pocket 73 of the inner front wall 16, the same having sockets 74 at its inner face for receiving pins 75 carried adjacent the forward ends of locking bolts 76 pivoted adjacent the free ends of the rocker arms 69 and extending through slots 77 in the said wall 16. Guide pins 78 are provided for the bolts 76 upon the opposite sides of the housing 23 while guide strips 79 adjacent thereto are also preferably arranged, it being noted that the pins 75 rest within the recesses 80 of the wall 16 when the bolts 76 are in their lowered retracted positions with the rack 27 in its elevated tripped position and at which times the slide 7 6 will extend over the upper portion of the opening 15 thereby contracting the said opening. the lower edge of the slide 72 being substantially in contact with the operators arm 22.

Locking hooks 81 are mounted upon springs 82 normally bringing the engaging ends 83 of the said hooks normally within the path of movement of the opposite edges of the slide 72, teeth 84 being arranged in the said edges for retaining engagement by the hooks 81 upon the downward movement of the slide 72 as illustrated in Fig. 8 of the drawings. A slide 72 is retained lowered by the locking hooks 81 until the fire depart ment ofiicer releases anddepresses the knob 56, which operation lowers the rack 27, elevating the bolts 76 so that their inner ends 85 engage the curved inner faces 86 of the hook 81 thereby releasing the said hook from the slide 72 and the pins 75 within the socket 71 elevate the slide 72 which has been released in this manner.

It will be understood that the outer front wall 17 normally covers the slide 72 and its adjacent mechanism and is preferably provided with an opening 87 forwardly of the grating 88 in the inner front wall 16 and whereby the position of the operating knob 21 is readily seen so that person desiring to turn in an alarm will readily conclude that access to the knob 24 may be had through the front opening 15 in the box 10 above the tray 17. The operation of the complete device will be apparent from the foregoing description of the operation of the separate elements thereof. When the operator turns the knob 24: the lowered rack 27 is elevated by the strap 32 while the switch plate 44: closes the fire alarm con tacts 45 and the rocker 68 upwardly tilts the forward end of the guard 19 while the bolts 76 being retracted permit the slide 72 to lower, the arm 22 of the operator being thereby retained with a portion of the same between the arm engaging plate 28 to the inner front wall 16 and with the elbow portion ofthe arm imprisoned upon the stationary tray 17 by means of the guard 19 and the slide 72. The operating of the device in this manner positions the knob 56 within the retaining notch 59 of the slot so that the flicer may release and lower the knob 56 which opens the circuit terminals 45 and retracts the plate 29 as well as elevates the slide 72 and releases the guard 19; The spring 89 of the latch 34 normally maintains the said latch projected and also maintains the knob 24 and the connecting means between the said knob 24 and latch in their normal positions. A device is provided which is readily operable in turning in a fire alarm and which is positive in its operation in retaining the operator a prisoner at the box until liberated by the proper officer of the fire department.

What we claim as new is 1. A fire alarm device comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in the front wall, terminal contacts for the electric system within the said box, an arm engaging plate swingingly mounted inwardly and adjacent the said wall, operating means for the said plate, means adapted for restraining the operating means when the plate is lowered, circuit closing means for the said contacts carried by the said operating means and releasing means for the said restraining means.

2; A fire alarm device comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in the front wall, terminal contacts for the electric system within the said box, an arm engaging plate swingingly mounted inwardly and adjacent the said wall, operating means for the said plate, means adapted for restraining the operating means when the plate is lowered, circuit closing means for the said contacts carried by the said operating means, releasing means for the said restraining means, a dished elbow supporting tray positioned beneath the said opening, a hollow semicircular guard pivoted to and normally inclosing the said tray and a tilting rocker for the said guard carried by the said operating means whereby the outer end of the guard is positioned forwardly of the said opening when the operating means is in its tripped arrangement.

3. A fire alarm device comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in the front wall, terminal contacts for the electric system within the said box, an arm engaging plate swingingly mounted inwardly and adjacent the said wall, operating means for the said plate, means adapted for restraining the operating means when the plate is lowered, circuit closing means for the said contacts carried by the said operating means and releasing means for the said restraining means, a dished elbow supporting tray positioned beneath the said opening, a hollow semicircular guard pivoted to and normally inclosing the said tray, a tilting rocker for the said guard carried by the said operating means whereby the outer end of the guard is positioned forwardly of the said opening when the operating means is in its tripped arrangement, a vertically shiftable slide carried by said box wall adapted for overlying a portion of the said opening thereof when the slide is lowered, locking hooks for the said slide and releasing means for the said hooks and elevating means for the slide attached to the said rockers and being in their normal operative elevated positions when the operating means is in its normal position.

4:. A fire alarm device comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in the front wall thereof, a fixed tray beneath the said opening having an elbow receiving cutaway upper face, a hollow semicircular guard pivotally mounted surrounding the said tray for tilting forwardly of the said opening upon the operation of the device, an arm engaging plate pivoted within the said housing adapted for movement toward the said wall when the device is operated, normal positioning connections between the said guard and plate, operating means for the said connections, restraining means for the said operating means and releasing means for the said restraining means adapted for operation by the hand extended through the said opening and housing.

5. A fire alarm device comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in the front wall thereof, a fixed tray beneath the said opening having an elbow receiving cut away upper face, a hollow. semicircular guard pivotally mounted surrounding the said tray for tilting forwardly of the said opening upon the operation of the device, an arm engaging plate pivoted within the said housing adapted for movement toward the said wall when the device is operated, normal positioning connections between the said guard and plate, operatingmeans for the said connections, restraining means for the said operating means, releasing means for the said restraining means adapted for operation by the hand extended through the said opening and housing, contacting terminals for the electric fire alarm system, a closing switch for; the said terminals oper atively connected with the said connections and arranged to bridge the said terminals when the guard is in its elevated and the plate is in its forward position.

6. A fire'alarm device comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in the front wall thereof, a fixed tray beneath the said opening having an elbow receiving cutaway upper face, a hollow semicircular guard pivotally mounted surrounding the for the electric fire alarm system, a closing switch for the said terminals operatively connected with the said connections and arranged to bridge the said terminals when the guard is in its elevated and the plate is in its forward position, a slide cover plate for the said opening, retaining hooks for the said slide when depressed and releasing means for the hooks and elevating means for the slide operatively attached to the said connections.

7. A device of the class described comprising abox having an arm receiving opening in its front wall, an electric switch and a hand operated knob within the said box, an arm engaging plate within the box, and an arm engaging slide at the front of the box adapted for operative positioning simultaneously with the turning ofthe knob and the closing of the switch.

8. A device of the class described comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in its forward wall, a housing within the box adjacent the said opening, restraining mechanism operable within the box at a point above the housing and opening, an arm engaging plate pivoted within the housing inwardly of the opening, 'an electric switch within the box, retracting means for said switch and plate, and spring operating means for said retracting-means associated with the restrainingmechanism.

9. A device of the class described comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in its forward wall, a housing within the box adjacent the said opening, restraining mechanism operable within the box at a point above the housing and opening, an arm engaging plate pivotedwithln the housing inwardly of the opening, an electric switch with1n the box, a rack for said plate associated with the said restraining mechanism and switch, a spring operating means for the said rack and locking means for the rack adapted for engagement upon the operation of the device.

10. A device of the class described comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in its forward wall, a housing within the box adjacent the said opening, restraining mechanism operable within the box at a point above the housing and opening, an arm engaging plate pivoted within the housing inwardly of the opening, an electric switch and plate, retracting means for said switch and plate, a spring operating means for said retracting means associated with the restraining mechanism, a shiftable slide forwardly of the box partially overlying the said opening when in its lowered position, an elbow supporting tray extending through the said wall beneath said opening, a hollow semicircular guide pivoted to and normally surrounding the said tray when horizontally positioned, means for normally holding the said slide elevated and rocker means connected to the said rack adapted for releasing said slide and tilting the said guard when the device is operated upon the releasing of said restraining mechanism.

11. A device of the class described comprising a box having an arm receiving opening in its forward wall, a housing within the box adjacent the said opening, restraining mechanism operable within the box at a point above the housing and opening, an arm engaging plate pivoted within the housing inwardly of the opening, an electric switch within the box, a rack for said plate associated with the said restraining mechanism and switch, a spring operating means for the said rack and locking means for the rack adapted for engagement upon the operation of the device, a shiftable slide forward of the box partially overlying the said opening when in its lowered position, an elbow supporting tray extending through the said wall beneath said opening, a hollow semicircular guide pivoted to and normally surrounding the said tray when horizontally positioned, means for normally holding the said slide elevated and rocker means connected to the said rack ada ted for releasing said slide and tilting t esaid guard when the device is operated upon the release of said restraining mechanism.

12. A device of the class described comprising a box having an arm receiving opening therein, an arm engaging plate hinged within the box, a shiftable rack carried by said plate, a releasable latch associated With the said rack adapted for retaining the rack and plate lowered, a fixed brace within the box having a toothed face adjacent the said rack, and a shiftable catch carried by the said rack adapted for engagement with the toothed face for retaining the rack and plate elevated.

13. A device of the class described comprising a box having an arm releasing opening therein, an arm engaging plate hinged within the box, a shiftable rack carried by said plate, a releasable latch associated with the said rack adapted for retaining the rack and plate lowered, a fixed brace within the box having a toothed face adjacent the said rack, a shiftable catch carried by the said rack adapted for engagement with the toothed face for retaining the rack and plate elevated, resilient elevating means for said rack, and releasing mechanism for the said latch positioned above the said opening.

14. A device of the class described comprising a box having an arm releasing opening therein, an arm engaging plate hinged within the box, a shiftable rack carried by said plate, a releasable latch associated with the said rack adapted for retaining the rack and plate lowered, a fixed brace within the box having a toothed face adjacent the said rack, a shiftable catch carried by the said rack adapted for engagement with the toothed face for retaining the rack and plate elevated, resilient elevating means for said rack, a releasing mechanism for said latch positioned above the said opening, a releasing member for said catch, a side door for the said box, and an operating knob connecting with the said catch releasing member arranged inwardly of said door.

In testimony whereon we atfix our signatures.

SZCZEPAN HORST. WACLAW HORST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

